| 16/11/2005
- An examination of the NSW Government’s proposed desalination
plant at Kurnell had shown that federal environment law
would not apply to the proposal, the Minister for the
Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, said today.
"An analysis of the proposed desalination plant shows
that the Australian Government does not have jurisdiction
over this project," Senator Campbell said.
"This means the NSW Government will be solely responsible
for ensuring that any environmental impacts are given
close and proper scrutiny," Senator Campbell said.
The proposed desalination plant was referred by the NSW
Government under the Australian Government’s Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC
Act) in late September to determine whether Commonwealth
legislation would apply.
The EPBC Act provides for the protection of certain defined
matters of national environmental significance (NES).
The matters of NES include world and national heritage
properties, wetlands of international importance, migratory
species, nationally threatened species and ecological
communities, nuclear actions, and the Commonwealth area.
Development proposals that are likely to have a significant
impact on these matters must be assessed and approved
by the Australian Government under the EPBC Act. The EPBC
Act cannot apply to those development proposals which
are not likely to have a significant impact on these matters.
Public comment on the proposal was invited for a month
to help the Australian Department of the Environment and
Heritage provide its advice. Over 1,400 submissions were
received.
The public comment was considered, together with detailed
analysis of the proposal, and it was determined that federal
law does not apply.
The analysis showed that matters of NES such as threatened
species (including the Green and Golden Bell Frog), the
Kurnell Peninsula National Heritage area, the Towra Point
wetland and the marine area off the Peninsula would not
be significantly threatened by the proposal.
"I am sure the people of Kurnell will be determined
to know that this proposal, if it proceeds, will be built
to the highest environmental standards," Senator
Campbell said.
"As Federal Environment Minister, I would expect
nothing less than a thorough and comprehensive assessment
by the NSW Government, including full public consultation,
before any construction begins." |
